Pneumatically-operated contact-shoe for electric railways.



Patented Nov. 28, I899.

S. H. LIBBY.

S Y. A W L A R m Du T c E L E R 0 F E 0 H s T c A T N 0 c D E l A Du E P0 Y L L A c A M U E N DI 7 9 8 1 0 2 t w d e 1 an m a e H w m.

2 Sheets8heet I.

(K0 Model.)

WlTNEESEi-L TH: NORRIS PETERS co. mom-Lrmovv wAsmua-mn. a c.

Patent ed Nov. 28, I899.

C s. n. LIBBY PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED CONTACT SHOE FOB ELECTRIC BAILWAYS.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

THE NORRIS warms co. monmurflm WASHINGTON, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM H. LIBBY, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, OF NEYV YORK.

PNEUMATlCALLY-OPERATED CONTACT-SHOE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,806, dated November28, 1899.

' Application filed September 20, 1897. Serial No. 652,238. (No model.)

I To all whom it may concern: M and M are shown, but in some cases oneBe it known that I, SAM H. LIBBY, a citizen is sufficient. Secured tothe adjacent ends of the United States, residing at Schenectady, of theshoes is an angular member provided in the county of Schenectady, Stateof New with a lug which engages with the link N. 5 York, have inventedcertain new and useful Situated on each side of cylinder J are linksImprovements in Pneumatically- Operated N, pivotally secured at theirupper ends to Contact-Shoes for Third-Rail Systems, (Case cross-head J,carried by the end of the piston- No. 578,) of which the following is aspecifirod. The lower end of each link N is slotted cation. to permitthe shoes to have a limited amount re The present invention has for itsobject to of vertical play. Extending parallel with the provide apneumatic control for the contact contact-shoes are connecting-pieces R,slotshoe or shoes of the well-known third-rail elected at their outerends to receive lugs m m trio-railway system either for maintaining onthe shoes and provided in the center with the shoes in contact with thecontact-rail or lugs b, arranged to work in slots formed at i 5 forlifting them from the contact-rail when the lower end of links N. Boltedto the upper for any reason this is desirable as, for eX- side ofcasting R is a cylinder J, provided ample, at the time when the vehiclesof one with a piston for moving the cross-head J up system cross thetracks of another system or and down as air is admitted to the cylinderswitch from one track to another-therebyprefrom pipes H and I. Placedupon the plat- 2c venting the shoe or shoes from striking the form ofthe vehicle or other convenient spot 5 traffic rails and eithershort-oircuitin g the sysis a controlling-stand U, carrying at its uppertem or being torn from its fastenings. end a valve which is providedwith an oper- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is ating-handle U.The valve is connected with an end elevation of a car, showing my imthecylinderJ by pipesHIand with the source 25 proved means attachedthereto. Fig. 2 isa of supply by pipe Z. I have shown the conpartialside view of a truck. Fig. 3 is an intact-shoes so arranged that theycan be converted plan view of a valve for controlling trolled by thecontrolling-stand U or by valve the operation of the shoe. Fig. 4 is asectional Q, located on the truck-frame; but it is withviewtaken onlinea of Fig. 3. Fig, 5 is a diain my invention to employ either or bothof 3'0 grammatic view of a track-section, showing the devices. Theconstruction of the valves the location of the valve-actuators; and Fig.in both cases being the same, it will be de- 6 is a slight modificationof the contact-shoe. scribed in connection with the automatic de- Thebody of the vehicle Ais mounted upon vice. (Shown best in Figs. 3 and4:.) a truck 13 of any desired construction. The The pipes H and extendfrom the cylin- 5 latter is provided with wheels C, adapted to der tovalve Q, carried by some fixed portion run on the traffic-rails D, whichare supported of the truck. Valve Q has an operating-hanby cross-ties F.The third or contact rail E dle extending both sides of the valve-centeris supported byinsulators E, situated on each and is adapted to engagewith the actuating side of the web of the rail. The motor G is devices 0and 0', located at one side of the 4o sleeved on one axle of the truckin the usual track. The valve consists of a rectangular manner and ispreferably spring-supported metal box having a central opening, in whichat the front end. Bolted to and extending is mounted a movable head Q,having suitrearwardly from the field-castingof the motor able ports forcontrolling the admission of are brackets K, forming a support forblocks air to pipes H and I. Chamber Q is conneot- 45 of wood L, whichsupport and insulate the. ed with pipe Z, leading from the supply-tankcontact-shoe M. Mounted upon and insulated Z, located in any convenientplace on the from the brackets by blocks L is a casting R, vehicle. Withthe parts arranged as shown, having downwardly-extending forked ends,air enters from pipe Z, passes through chamin which are mounted links I)b, forming conber Q and opening Q to pipe I, and thence to T00 50nections between the shoes M M and castings cylinder J, raising thepiston and contact- R. In the present instance two contact-shoes shoes.Pipe H is open to atmosphere through head Q connects pipe I withexhaust-pipe Y mas described, but, of'course, the construction.

which tends to hold the arm in exhaust-pipeY and passage Qt. (Shown indotted .lines in the head.) The valve is intended to movethrough anangle of approximately forty-five degrees, the extremes representing itstwo positions. from the position shown to its otherv position,

by means of passage Q and chamber Q is connected with pipe H throughopening Q The actuating devices 0 O are located with respect to, thevalve as indicated in Fig. 3, 0 being situated at the left of thevalve-center and O at the right. The first one striking handle P movesit in one direction and the next one in theopposite. Under normalconditions the weight of the shoe is sufficient-toestablish good contactwith rail E, and theair pressure may berelieved from cylinder J by asuitable valve.

sion of air to the cylinder is located on the platform, the arrangementof parts is thesame is much lighter.

The-actuating device 0 consists of an arm pivoted to support 0 Thelatter isbolted .to cross-tie F. To lessen the shock between.

thearm and handle, a spring 0 is employed, the position shown.

Fig. 5 shows in diagram a section of track with the continuity of thethird rail E interrupted and actuating devices 0 located in position tocontrol the operation of theshoebe moved to a point where the pipe I isopen.

.raising mechanism. n

Compressed air for operating the shoes is obtained from the regulartrain-supply,which is connected to tank Z. a 5 l The action of theinvention when under automatic control will now be described. -As- .sumethat the'vehicle isadvancing from left to right and that it is desiredto raise the'shoe or shoes while passing over 'the opening be- .tweenthe ends of the third rail E. Handle P of the valve will strike thevertically-extending arm of actuator O and be rotated'in .aleft-handeddirection. This admits air from the source of supply to pipe I, which isconnected tothebottom of cylinder J, and the piston rises and lifts theshoes by means of links N. When the train advances to the far- .ther endof the opening, valve-handle Pwill strike actuating device 0 and valve Qwill to the atmosphere and air under pressureadmitted to cylinder J frompipe H.

For manually controlling the shoe-raising mechanism handle U isemployed, which ac-' .tuates a valve similar in construction to valve Q.Both the automatic and manual control -may, be employed, if desired.Under certain conditions where heavy currents are employed it isdesirable to apply the contact-shoe to the rail or conductor E underpressure. In Fig. 6 is shown a construction ,adapted for such use.Mounted within cylinderJ isa piston, and secured to the end of Whenmoved I air to and from the cylinder.

connection therewith.

When the valve for controlling the admis-- the piston-rod is across-head J, adapted to move inguidesJ extending downward from thecylinder. The contact-shoe is removably secured to cross-head .l in anysuitable manner. Pipes H and I convey the compressed Byapplying amoderate amount of pressure to the piston the contact-shoe will followclosely all the irregularities in the track and establish good In thismanner I am enabled to dispense with all springs and connecting-links,at the same time-maintaining good conductivity on the system. I

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the UnitedStates, is

The combination in an electric railway,

with a traveling vehicle, of electric motors thereon, acontact-rail, acontact-shoe carried by the vehicle and adapted to make electricalconnection between said rail-and motors, and

a pneumatic motor. for moving the shoe out of contact with the rail. v

2.. The combination in an electric railway, with a traveling vehicle, ofelectric motors thereon, a contact-rail, a contact-shoe carried by thevehicle and adapted to make electrical connection between said rail andmotors, a

.piston and cylinder 'for moving the shoe into and out of contact withthe rail, and a valve controlling the operation of the piston;

3. In an electric railway, thecombination of a traveling vehicle, amotor mounted on the truck, supports extending outwardly from the motor,a contact-shoe mounted thereon and adapted to make electrical connectionbetween said rail and motors, a piston and -cylinder for movingtheshoe'into and out of contactwith the rail, and a valve controllingthe operation of the piston. I y

4. Thecombination in an electric railway, of a travelingvehicle,electric motors thereon, a contact-rail, a contact-shoe carried by thevehicle and adapted to make electrical connection between said rail andmotors, and

.a pneumatic device for maintaining the shoe in contact with the rail.

5. The combination in an electric railway, of a traveling vehicle,electric motors thereon, acontact-rail, a contact-shoe carried, by thevehicle andadapted to make electrical connection between said rail andmotors, a piston and cylinder carried by the vehicle,

said contact-shoe being moved by the piston into and out of engagementwith the con-tactrail and adapted to be maintained in contact with therail by fluid-pressure.

6. In an electric railway, the combination of a moving vehicle, a fixedconductor located along the line of travel, a contact maker mounted onthe vehicle, and adapted to make contact with the conductor,pneumaticallyactuated means for'moving the contact-maker into contactwith the conductor and main taining a certain pressure thereon, and avalve controlling the operation of the said means. V '7. The combinationwith an electricvehicle, of a contact-rail, a collector carried by thevehicle independently movable, and adapted to engage with saidcontact-rail, and a cushion composed of an elastic fluid adapted topress said collector upon said contact-rail and to yield when thecollector encounters irregularities of the contact-rail.

8. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a contact-rail, acollector carried by the vehicle, independently movable and adapted toengage with said contact-rail, and means for lifting said collector fromsaid rail and also maintaining it in its elevated position, byfluid-pressure.

9. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a contact-rail, acollectorcarried by the vehicle, independently movable and adapted toengage with said contact-rail, a motor on the vehicle for moving saidcollector, and means along the way adapted to be engaged by the vehiclefor controlling the operation of said motor.

10. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a contact-rail, anindependently-movable collector carried by the vehicle, a motor on thevehicle for moving said collector, and means along the way adapted to beengaged by the vehicle to cause the motor to elevate said collector andmaintain it in its elevated position.

11. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a contact-rail, anindependently-movable collector carried by the vehicle, a motor on thevehicle for moving the collector, and means along the way on oppositesides of an obstruction to the collector, adapted to be engaged by thevehicle to cause the motor to move said collector in oppositedirections.

12. The combination with an electric vehicle,of a contact-rail, anindependently-movable collector carried by the vehicle, and a motor onthe vehicle adapted to move saidcollector from either limit of itsmovement and maintain it in its opposite position.

13. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a contact-rail, anindependently-movable collector carried by the vehicle, a motor on thevehicle for moving the collector from either limit of its movement andmaintaining it in its opposite position, and means along the way onopposite sides of an obstruction to the collector, adapted to be engagedby the vehicle to cause the motor to operate in opposite directions.

14. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a contact-rail, anindependently-movable collector carried by the vehicle, a pne'umaticmotor on the vehicle, and means along the way adapted to engage with thecontrolling-valves of the motor.

15. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a contact-rail, anindependently-movable collector carried by the vehicle, and aresiliently-mounted arm along the Way adapted to cause the movement ofsaid collector.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day ofSeptember, 1897.

p SAM H. LIBBY.

Witnesses:

B. B. HULL, E. W. CODY.

